Old houses are nothing if not forgiving. We took advantage of this when we combined a few styles that the homeowner already owned. As this is a reading room, we wanted to offer a play on words, most literally, by throwing a simple gray rug on the floor adorned with prominent poets and authors. The table welcomes its new indoor life as it previously was used for weighing small livestock. The art behind the chaise is actually dyed lily pads dried and mounted on fabric panels. Photo~ Jared Saulnier

For functional and esthetic reasons, pavers are the best fit for the driveway. Techo-Bloc pavers are made to withstand automobile traffic. They will not fade because they are made with color, through and through. Unlike asphalt, our pavers will never crack. They are also resistant to de-icing salt and come with a lifetime warranty. Techo-Bloc offers a wide variety of paver shapes, finishes and colors to create perfect harmony with your home's architecture and color.

Photo Credit: Andy Beasley Exposed brick walls, dark joinery and contrasting textures and soft furnishings allows this space to have a lovely homely feel while still being a contemporary family home. A wood burning fire in the sitting area creates a toasty corner, even in an open plan room. A multi use space for entertaining and family life this project is still a hit, and a favourite of ours and the public. The space can be opened up to bring the outside, in. By opening up the huge sliding glazed doors onto the patio you create an even larger space where life can spill out into the garden, and equally lets nature into the home with a breath of fresh air. The pendant lights above the table from John Lewis – William Bottle Glass Pendants from the Croft collection £130 each. These are such simple lights with a hint of detail and a slightly industrial feel ties in beautifully with the metal star table lamp on the bespoke side table.